Tank-gage.



T. 0. THEOBALD.

TANK GAGE.-

APPLICATION men mus 1. 1911.

Patnted Mar. 19, 1918.

mmsau provide means THOMAS o. THEOBALD, or nn'rnorr, MICHIGAN,

TANK-GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 119, 1918.

Application filed June 7, 1917. Serial No. 173,337.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, THoMAsO. THEOBALD, a citizen of the United States,-residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tank-Gages; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

' of the seats of the automobile or other vehicle, or concealed from the view of the occupants of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a device of this character which will be of extremely simple, strong, durable and inexpensive construction, one which will be eflicient andjreliable in operation and well adapted tothe purpose for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists ,of certain novelfeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts "as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters designate likeparts throughout the several views:

-Figure 1 is a conventional sectional view through a portion of an automobile, showing a device constructed in accordance with this invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the indicator; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal'sectional view through the casing which is attached to the bottom of the fuel tank, a portion of the latter being also shown in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the letter A designates the fuel tank of an automobile, which is usually located and concealed beneath the front seat of the same. This tank A is provided with a vertically disposed internally threaded opening' a in its bottom, which usually receives a plug. For the purpose of applying this invention thereto, this plug is removed and threaded in the opening a is a coupling member 1, which is preferably in the form of an ordinary T-coupling. Into the end of the coupling member 1 which is disposed in alinement with the end fitted in the opening a is threaded a plug 2. This plug 2 may be removed when the tank A is to be drained of any sediment or the like. k

. The nipple 3 which extends horizontally from one side of the coupling member 1 is in this case internally threaded to receive a nipple 4: which extends centrally outwardly from the outer side of a cap 5. The cap 5 is ofwhich opposite the open end is provided with a central outwardly extending nipple 7 the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. Clamped between the open end of the casing 6 and theadjacent Or inner side of the cap 5 is the flat flange 8 of a collapsible chamber 9. This collapsible chamher 9 has a collapsible annular side wall formed as shown with deep corrugations 10 of thin metal, although it is to be understood that it may be constructed in any other convenient manner. The open end of the chamber 9 communicates with the interior of the-tank A through the nipples 3 and 4. and the coupling member 1.

. threaded to the open end of ahollow cylindrical horizontally disposed casing 6, the'end' The reference numeral 11 designates a support which is attached preferably to the dashboard B of the automobile, and upon which is mounted in any suitable manner a gage tube '12, the latter being connected to one end of a tube 13 which has its other end connected to the nipple. 7 of the casing 6.

Threaded on the. nipple 7 is a cap member 14 containing suitable packing material 15, the purpose of which will beobvious.

Disposed within-the tubes 12 and 13 and within the casing 6 exteriorly of the chamher 9 is an indicating liquid 16, which is preferably colored to allow-its level in the tube 12- to be readily ascertained by referring to the grad-nations 17 on the support 11.

When the device is first applied to the tank, a sufficient amount of this li uid 16 is to be placed within the casingan tubes so that its level in the tube 12 will beat zero on the graduations. As the tank is filled with fuel, a small amount of this fuel will pass through the coupling member 1 and expand. Owing to the fact that the liquid 'into the chamber 9 and cause the latter to 1 16 is disposed around the walls of the chamindicating her 9 and adjacent one end of the .same, as the chamber 9 expands, a certain'amount of this liquid will be forced out of the casing 6 and consequently its level in the tube 12 will rise. Hence a very eflioient manner of stood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction herein shown and described.

I claim:

In a device of the character described, the combination of a fuel tank havin an opening in the bottom thereof, a coup ing member threaded in said opening and provided with a horizontally side thereof, a hollow cylindrical horizontal casing provided with a nipple at the quantity 6f fuel in the tank extending nipple on one 1 one end thereof and *atits other end a removable cap, the latter being provided with a nipple havin'g nipple of said coupling member, a collap sible chamber disposed within said casing and having a flange atone end thereof and the adjacent side of said cap, said chamber. communicatin clamped between the'open end of the latter;

In testimony whereof I-have hereunto set my hand in the preselfce of two subscribing witnesssi v I THOMAS o. THEOBALD.

Witnesses:

Jim. 0; SUI LIVAN S. Holman Fmeusdn.

threaded connection with the .through said coupling" member with the interior of said. tank andthe wall and other end 

